Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
September 13, 2018

Fifteen previous convictions are to his name, but for Andre Glenroy Brathwaite, of Mangrove, St Philip, they do not merit him being branded “a criminal”.

Brathwaite made his displeasure at the label known to the court as he put forward an application for bail in response to the prosecution’s objection to his release after he denied stealing a $141.99 bottle of liquor from Massy Stores Limited on September 11.

Acting Station Sergeant Cameron Gibbons suggested the accused was not a fit for bail given the strength of the evidence against him and his record which contained similar previous brushes with the law. The police prosecutor also noted that Brathwaite had only recently served a ten-month sentence at Dodds for theft.

“And he is now back before the court and there are fears that he would likely re-offend,” the prosecutor submitted.

In his application Brathwaite revealed that he had been released from prison just two months prior – in June – and was currently working.

“I am not a flight risk. I have a household to maintain. It’s hard to get a job when you leave prison and I want to maintain this job.

“I was accused of this matter just because of who I am…. because people looking at me as a criminal . . . . Because the matter was in the [news] paper and people does judge you,” he added.

But his pleas were in vain. The magistrate denied his bail application and remanded him until October 10.